My oil pressure gauge is fine when the car is started then after running for a while the gauge jumps and gets close and sometimes goes to zero could that be the pressure switch? So far it has not shut off when it hits zero. We just changed the oil and it isn't making any noise.

so where your eyes look at to see 60, ?
the dash?
or a real gauge , at the block, port. (gallery)

you must learn 2 things, about dash gauges

1. they are not really instruments. not even close, more toy like.
2. and some return to zero others do NOT.

many cars made, you key off and the gauges, freeze.
this is nothing new and is normal.

use the scan tool yet and look for DTC errors from the cluster?
in any event.
id concerned about engine oil pressure , try a real gauge.
if concerned about just the dash gunge?, then scan it first. then do the self tests shown in the FSM.

this car the PCM sense oil pressure data via the PCI bus
to the cluster and then it displays this data.
im not sure which years return to zero.
the PCM gets its DATA from the oil pressure sender.
if the pCM shows the data to bee good using a scan tool
then we check for errors on the PCI buss. if that is good
the display is bad, if the data is wrong. there.

here is the path of data. in text
sender>>> pcm>>> pci bus>>>> cluster.>>> gauge.

see the FSM page , 1 or 9 pages just for the cluster. page 7

factory service manual or alldata.com
either.

If your oil is full, it's most likely electrical. If it's not electrical, then it's most likely something like a crack in the pickup tube, sucking air if I had to guess.

If the oil pressure switch shows zero, how do you know its fine? If the oil level is correct in the engine, it may be a faulty wire / connection or it could be that the oil pump is failing

LOW OIL PRESSURE WILL CAUSE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH OR SENDING UNIT TO DISABLE FUEL PUMP.CHECK FOR OIL PRESSURE.REMOVE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT SCREW IN OIL PRESSURE GAUGE TESTER INTO BLOCK WHERE OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT GOES TURN ENGINE OVER CHECK FOR OIL PRESSURE SHOULD BE 18 PSI @ 2000 RPM. BESURE TO WRAP TEFLON PLUMBERS TAPE AROUND THREADS TO THE OIL GAUGE PRESSURE TESTER OIL WILL SPRAY EVERY WHERE.IF YOU ARE GETTING NO OIL PRESSURE.YOUR OIL PUMP FAULTY.YOUR ENGINE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS WORN OUT.WORN DAMAGED CAMSHAFT OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR OR OIL PUMP DRIVE ROD DAMAGED OR BROKEN. IF OIL PRESSURE OKAY OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT IS BAD.

its possible that the oil gauge go to bad, the oil pressure sending unit may have gone bad, the oil pump may have quit. I suggest you find the oil pressure line coming off engine, put another oil pressure gauge on it and then just crank the engien to see if you get any oil pressure whatsoever.


If you don't, then I would check the oil pressure sending unit next before I tore the oil pan off to examine the oil pump itself. Whatever you do, do not run the engine with zero oil pressure otherwise you will seize up the engine and that will cost big bucks to repair.

Hope this heslp (remember to rate this answer)

Sounds like an electrical problem, make sure the ground leads to the engine are good and the battery terminals are clean. It might just be a bad connection in the wiring harness try jiggling the connections to see if it makes the gauges jump when it is running.

Start by verifying the oil pressure sending unit. It is quite common for a bad sensor to act erratically, such as you have described. Acquire an oil pressure gauge and install it in an appropriate location, perhaps in place of the oil sending unit if a more convenient location is not available, and run the engine. Observe the pressure on the test gauge at various RPM and over a period of several minutes as the engine warms. If pressure on the gauge is good, then you have a problem either with the oil pressure sending unit, in the circuitry, or instrument panel gauge. However, the problem is most likely the sending unit. Note: the sending unit often requires a special socket, which may be obtained at any auto parts store. Also, if you don't own a test gauge or unwilling to purchase, many auto parts stores now rent tools, others even loan tools provided an adequate security deposit is made.

u Have a problem with the oil sending unit. The sensor is located beack right side of the engine block. Take out the switch and make sure u have good oil PSI. Should be 6 psi at idle and around 50 at 4000 RPM. If the presure is ok replace the switch they are very cheap about 20 bucks. Please rate.

You better put a manual gauge on your engine and make sure you have oil pressure. Could just be a faulty gauge or sending unit but I sure as heck would be checking it with a manual gauge.

Any time the oil pressure is 0 you take a chance of locking up the motor. The only way to know for sure is to put a pressure gauge in the oil pressure sending unit port on the engine and see what the pressure really is. At that point you will either have the peace of mind in the knowledge that the sending unit is really bad and needs replacement or you can then contact a repair shop and tell them what your testing has revealed. I wouldn't drive or run your truck while the oil pressure is at zero.

Good luck